Briefing: Nowhere to go

By: Deborah Garvie
Published: November 2013

This Christmas, 80,000 children in England, Scotland and Wales will wake up homeless.
In the short-term the Government must strengthen our housing safety net to avoid homeless children being accommodated far away from their local area or in unsuitable B&Bs. A stronger safety net will allow families the time they need to get back into work and secure a settled home.

Summary

Too many children will wake up homeless this Christmas. Their experience in B&Bs will stay with them for the rest of their lives. We must make sure that families who experience the downward spiral that leads to homelessness have an adequate safety net. In the long term, we need an adequate supply of decent, affordable homes to prevent so many families being unable to find somewhere suitable to live. But in the short-term, those of us who fall on hard times need early advice and support to avoid losing the family home. And for those who become homeless, local authorities need to be able obtain suitable accommodation that prevents children from facing any further trauma and disruption to their lives, and allows their families to get back on their feet.